Improvement



- 'SheetsnSheglf. u. Bissau.' .w Fracture-Boxes fr Legs.

Patehtedjan.19,875..

INVENTOB WITNESSES:

-n-IE GRAPNIG Co. PHDTO"LlTH.39 s ffl PARK MAO Emy.

5 Sheets-Sheet3. D. BI SSELL.

y Fracture-Boxesffor .Lags.

'N0.l58,894`. Patemedlammnan.

INVEIITGB WITNESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet "n. lssELL. Fract'ure-Boxas for Legs.

Patented Jan. 19, 1875.

mvinnn BY l Aomms WITNESSES:

UNrrnD A STATES Para DAVID BISSELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRACTURE-BOXES FOR LEGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,894, datcd January 19,1875; application filed December 5, 1874.

CASE B.

.To all whom it may conce-ra Be it known that 1,])Avrn BissELL, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Leg-Splint, of which the following is a specication:

My improved leg-splint is composed esseni tially of two fracture-boxes for the leg and thigh, respectively, with an adjustable and extensible `bed in the leg-box for the leg to rest on 5 also, adjustable extensible and removable pressure-pads for the sides and to`p of the leg and thigh; also, means for extending the limb; also, means for adjusting them to crook the leg at the Vknee also, means for effecting extension from the shoulder,and certain other contrivances, all of which will be particularly described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved splint. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line so a' of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a yoke for holding the box closed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the splint inverted. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the splint as adjusted to crook the knee. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the attachment for eecting the extension from the shoulder. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of Fig. 6,'on the line y y of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a plan of a portion of the bottom of the part of themsplint for the leg, with a rest attachment for the thigh, to be used when the fracture-box is not needed. Fig. 1() is a plan view oi' bandage, with straps for fastening the foot to the foot-piece, to hold it for extending the leg. Fig. 11 is a transverse section of Fig. 9, on the line z z through the thigh-rest. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of hooks for attaching cloth bandages to the pressure-pads. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of pressure-pads clamped to the leg, for supporting it in the early stages of use after recovery. Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the pressurepads and clamps for supporting the leg in use.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The fracture-box A for the thigh is represented at the right hand of Fig. 1, and the box B for the leg at the left hand. The bottom of box A, also the sides, are made in two parts, C G1 and D D1, respectively, for extending and `shortening it as may be required. The parts O O1 are also provided with additional pieces E El, to extend the breadth of the box when the limb is to be packed in sand, wheat-bran, or the like. These pieces are also extensible lengthwise with the plates C Cl and the sides,

and they are removable together with the sides,

which are hinged to them when it is not deV sirable to pack the limb, leaving the middlev bottom pieces C G1 to rest the thigh on. Over these middle bottom pieces O O'L is another plate, F, to cover the gap between plates C C1 when extended. The plates O O1 are attached to the arms G H of independent supports I Il. The plate F is attached to the arms J of the slotted bar K. along which the supports I I1 slide in extending and contracting the plates() C1, the bar K being fitted in a groove in the bottom of each ot' said supports, and it is confined in them by screws L passing through its slots M, which hold the middle of the box up level with the ends. The supports I are pivoted `at the outer end to the rods N, which support them, and slide in the stands O and l?. The supports I1 are pivoted at Q, to the support R, which extends along under the box B toward the front, and receives the fr nt support S thereof in its grooved under side. It also has the extension-screw T swiveled in its lug U, and screwing in a nut, V, on support S for extending the limb. The side bottom plates E E1 are fastened on the bars G by thumb screws W, which pass through slots in the plates, to allow the plates to be put in and taken away without wholly removing the screws. These plates, and also the plates C, C1, and F, and the sides D D1, are connected by rivets Y in slots to hold them snugly` together, and `,at the saine time allow them to slide freely. The fracture-box for the leg iseoinposed of two bottom plates, a, and two side plates, b. The bottom plates are secured to the supporting-frame 0l by screws e' passing through slots f, which allow the plates to be put in and taken ont readily; also, to be adjusted to widen and narrow the box as may be wanted, and the frame d is attached to the support R, so that the main portion of this box moves forward and backward with the thigh-box for extending and contracting the limb. The frame d also rests on the bars g of the standards P and h, so as to slide :forward and backward on them. The extension is effected by the foot-piece t', to which the foot and ankle are strapped, and which is connected by screws]l to the upright It, which is supported on the bar S, having the nut V, in which the extension-screw T works. This upright also supports end plates Z, having bottom extensions a, which overlap, so as to widen and narrow with the box. The foot-piece il has adjustable foot-platesp, pivoted at q, to swing laterally to line the great toe with the leg, so as to set it in the proper relation to the leg when iixing it in place also, to open and close the plates in the upper part, as demanded by the size of the foot.

This foot-piece t' is swiveled on the screws j to shift it forward and backward, and it has a fastenin g-screw, r, to make the foot-plates firm. Two screws, j, are used for adjusting the footpiece in the plane transverse to the leg. The bed for the leg consists of the single plate t for the heel and ankle, and the two plates u for the calf, which are suitably curved transverse-ly and lengthwise to conform to the shape. The plates u are adjustable on the stud w, to widenY andk narrow the bed, and both the footpiece and the plates u are adjustable. lengthwise along the st'ud al. The slots for this stud are covered, and they are held fast by a springplate, b. This bed is mounted at the middle ofthe arch, or thereabout, on the bar d', which is adjustable vertically to the leg by the thumbscrews e', and near the upper end it rests on the bar j", which has a bandage or strap, g', by which to hold the end up to the leg. ln the leg-box I have two double extensible side spring-pressure pads, hl, and a similar top pad, il. These pads are composed of flat steel springs, with front plates of zinc, held together by the screws jl, by which they are also at tached to the supporting-plates lo', the screws being swiveled to them in slots l', so that they can be shifted along the screws for extending and shortening them, as required by the nature of the case. Each pad has two springs and two zinc plates, which overlap along one end portion, and are connected by the middle screw, jl, so as to allow them to be shifted readily either way. The supporting-plates k for the pads are supported on the screws ml, to which they are swiveled, and which are supported in the uprights nl. These uprights nl are attached to the frame d by bolts o at their lower ends screwing into the ears b of said frame through slots in the bars, which y allow them to be put in and taken out readily. These uprights support cross-bars ql at the top, from which the top pressure-pad il is suspended by means of the screws rl, bar sl, and the pad-screws jl, said pad being arranged and provided with adjusting-screws, the same as the side pads, except that it is single. The thigh-box has similar side and top pressurepads h2 and i?, except that the side pads are single, and they are supported by adjustingscrews jg, supporting-bars h2 and s2, screws m2 and r2, uprights n2, and cross-bars q2,- but, as this box is adjustable lengthwise, the bars h2 are also made extensible, being contrived in two parts, which lap each other, and are connected by screws t2 and some of the adjustingscrews jz, so as to allow them to extend and shorten. The supporting-screws ml and m2 pass through large holes n2 in the box sides, to allow them. to be put up and taken down when the screws are in place, and closingplates u2 are employed to close said holes to hold the packing in. l

With the apparatus as thus far described, a limb broken both above and below the knee may be set and arranged so as to be kept in the right positions.

To set the limb, the side pads and top pads and their supports will all be removed, the limb dressed and arranged on the bed-pieces, and the uprights and cross-bars set up, the pressure-pads attached, and adjusted just as required by the shape and the state of the limb. But, first, the pattern of the well leg will be taken by adjusting one of the pads to its shape, in order to restore the broken leg to `the corresponding shape. This pattern-pad will then be put in place, andthe leg will he adj usted to it by the other pad. The side pads are contrived so that they can be used alike on either side, thus making it simple and easy to so adjust the Abroken limb to the well one. By the exibility of the pads and their adjusting-screws the requisite pressure can be applied to any part, and any part can be at once relieved, if subject to too much pressure, or in case it swells so as to increase the pressure after the pad has been adjusted.

If the limb is to be packed in bran or other substance, the sides of the fracture-box may then be applied; and they can be taken olf, when no longer wanted, without disturbing the other parts. Thus the limb can be held iu the requisite shape and with the needed pressure without employing the bandages coinmonly used, which are unyielding when the limb swells unless readjusted, which is very laborious and painful to the patient, and causes much disturbance of the limb.

It' a fracture of the thigh only is to be treated, the leg-box and the leg-pad will be dispensed with but the bed and the foot-piece, together with the extension apparatus, will be retained.

Likewise the thigh-box will be dispensed with if it is a fracture of the leg that is to be treated; but in some cases it may be desirable to use a rest or support, A2, for the thigh,

which is connected, by supports B2, to the supports R and the rods N, being pivote-d to both, so as to adjust it "and the leg-boxgto crook the knee, if wanted to do so; and it is provided with straps C2, for binding it fast to the thigh. D2 and D3 of the foot-bandage E2, are provided with staples F2, which are to fasten the straps by passing through the holes O2 behind the loops H2, as in`Fig. l1, the object being to prevent having to draw the straps so as to increase the compression for buckling and unbucklin g, as must be done when the common buckles are used. This will be a great relief to the patient, particularly when the limb swells after the straps have been fastened. This footbandage is attached to the ankle by the straps D2, and the straps D34 are employed for attaching the foot to the foot-piece, so as to pull it down to effect the extension. The bars g of the supporting-frame are provided with a series of notches, I2, in which the handles J2 of the screw T are placed, as shown in Fig. 6, when it is desired to raise the middie joint Q to crook the knee, and guards K2 are applied to fasten the handles in the notches. The stand P has a hole, P2, with an appropriate binding-screw, Q2, on eachy side, and the extension-bar R2 S2 T2 and shoulder-piece U2 are provided to fit therein, for the purpose ot' effecting the counter extension from the shoulder in case of necessity. This contrivanoe can be put on either side, as may be desired. The shoulder-piece may be shifted either side up to adapt it for either side. A3 represents'clamping-bars, B3 clampin g-screws, and D3 attaching-bars, by which the side pads h1 areto be rigged upon the leg for strengthening itin the iirst eiiorts to walk after the limb has-sufficiently recovered for the purpose. The attaching-bars are connected to the clamping-bars by the screws C3, and the presser-pads are connected to the bars D3 by adjusting-screws E3, which are arranged and operated the same as the screws jl.

The -quality of these pads which enables the taking of the pattern of the sound limb, or counterpart of the broken one, and also enables the broken limb to be set to the pattern, I consider of great importance, and believe it is possessed by no other splint known or used. By it the misshapen and crooked limbs not corresponding in form and shape i with the others,-so often the result of the generates electric effects, which are beneficial,

and'it facilitates the application of electricity. Ample space is left between the top and side pressure-pads, also between the latter and the leg-rest, for the escape of heat and These straps, and also the straps other matters 'emanating from the wound,

and for the inspection of it, or application of remedies, but any one of the pads can be withdrawn readily at any time by turning back the screws.

a3 represents hooks, combined with the pressure-pads, for temporarily attaching the bandages, to hold them until the pressure-pads are screwed up. a4 represents rods for holding the side bars up .when packed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination of the extensible and adjustable leg-rest t u and the foot-rest 'i and p, the leg-rest being itself extensible, and the foot-rest being extensible relatively to the legrest, substantially as speciiied.

2. The foot-plates p, adjustable laterally together, and to and from each other on the pivot q, having a fastening-screw, q2.

3. The foot-rest t p, connected to the upright 7c by the swiveled adjusting-screws j, and'provided with the binding-screw r, substantially as speciiied.

4. The combination of the bar d and adjusting-screws e' with the leg-rest't u, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the side spring-pressure pads h1 with the leg-rest t u, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of the top spring-pressure pad t1 with the leg-rest t u, substantially as specified.

7. The combination of springs, adjustingscrews j, and a support for the screws, forming a spring-pressure pad for a splint, substantially as specified.

8. The combination ofv detachable bars alf* supporting cross-bars q1, and screws m1 r1, for

supporting the spring-pressure pads, substantially as specified.

9. The combination ofthe detachable botytom and sides with the leg-rest and pressurepads, substantially as specified.

10. The combination ot' the leg-rest and pressure-pads, thigh-rest and pressure-pads, and jointed supports R and I1, substantially as specified.

1l. The combination of supports R I1 11,

15. The combination of a shoulderextension device, U2, S2, T2, and R2, With the stand P and the leg and thigh splint, substantially as specied.

16. The combination of thigh-rest A2 with the leg-rest and its pressure-pads, substantially as specified.

17. The improved strap fastening, consisting of the staple F2, holes G2, and the loop H2, substantially as specified.

18. The combination of clamping-bars A3, screws B3, and attaching -bars D3 with the side pressure-pads h1, substantially as Speci- 19. The combination of the foot-bandage Ez and straps D2 and G2 with the foot-rest i h, substantially as specified.

20. The combination of hooks a3 with the pressure-pads, substantially as specied.

DAVID BISSELL. Witnesses:

T. B. MosHER, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

